Unions say the NSW Government needs to come up with a more realistic projection for public sector wages growth than its plan to limit pay rises to 2.5% a year.
The Howard Government's Stronger Safety Net legislation has passed the Senate this morning, after the Government accepted a Family First amendment extending redundancy protection in a transmission of business from 12 months to 24 months.
The OECD has recommended that countries look at European "flexicurity" models that protect workers made redundant while providing for the job mobility required to allow movement from shrinking to growing sectors of the economy. It has also backed paid maternity leave, saying it boosts multi factor productivity.
Government and Family First amendments to the Stronger Safety Net Bill set to be passed by parliament this week clarify technical elements of the fairness test, but will leave industry uncertain on fair compensation and some award designations.
In a day in which productivity dominated debate in Canberra, Prime Minister John Howard also used his last address to Coalition members and senators before parliament rises for the winter recess to describe the coming federal election as "winnable" and argue that voters were worried about "union thuggery".
The OEA has ordered changes to remove prohibited content from a CFMEU collective agreement with Vealstruct, including parts of the national construction award.
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In a bid to prevent Tristar-type arrangments, the Government will support Family First Senator Steve Fielding's amendment to the fairness test bill to double the protected period for redundancy benefits after a transmission of business from 12 months to two years.
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Employers face being fined if they don't give their employees a Workplace Authority fact sheet under planned government amendments to the fairness test bill.
